A tiny West Otago town has raised more than $170,000 for the Child Cancer Foundation, inspired by a local family whose son battled cancer as a child.
For more than a decade, the Tapanui community has rallied around the Davies family and their son Jock, who was diagnosed with leukaemia at nine years old.
Jock overcame the disease after years of treatment but died last year after he was shot in a hunting accident on Stewart Island.
His parents Peter and Sarah Davies were now continuing the fundraising that began during his cancer battle — this time in his memory.
Jock’s cancer battle
The family’s connection with the Child Cancer Foundation began after Jock became unwell in 2013.
"He’d been feeling pretty crook and no energy, which wasn’t like him," dad Peter told Seven Sharp.
A blood test led to Jock being taken to Invercargill before he was flown down to Christchurch for further treatment.
He spent much of the following months there and remained on medication for around two years.
"It was a long road, " Peter recalled.
The family received support from the Child Cancer Foundation throughout Jock’s treatment, while the local community of Tapanui also rallied around them.
Jock eventually overcame leukaemia and went on to study in Dunedin, where he pursued his love of sport and the outdoors and planned to become a teacher.
But in July of last year, his life was tragically cut short after he was fatally shot while hunting on Stewart Island.
Peter said the family had been surrounded by support in the difficult year since.
"We've been really lucky though. Lots of great friends, family, community once again around here. Yeah. Good people around us," he said.
The couple said Jock "loved life and people", describing him as someone who was "a little bit unique and a little bit naughty".
"He wouldn’t want us to be wallowing," mum Sarah said.
Fundraising in Jock’s memory
This year, the Child Cancer Foundation fundraising carried new significance for the Davies family.
"The Child Cancer Foundation has always, since Jock was diagnosed, been a big part of our family,” Sarah said.
"So in memory of Jock, I think this year is just going to feel really special."
The family were encouraging people to get behind the cause that supported them through some of their most difficult years.
"Instead of having that coffee today or tomorrow, donate that money to the Child Cancer Foundation," Peter said.
The wider Tapanui community — home to fewer than 1000 people — also continued to rally behind the fundraising effort.
Students and staff at Blue Mountain College took park in Wig Wednesday, donning wigs and shaving their heads to raise money for the foundation.
Peter and Sarah were longtime teachers at the school, where Jock and his older brothers George and Tom attended.
"They’ve been a great support of us as a family for a long time and just get in behind the day," Peter said. "The whole community is giving back for us, helping us do that."
"It’s very humbling actually," Sarah added.
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